Summary
The Java ecosystem has undergone significant modernization, thanks to its six-month release cycle, transforming it into a more modern and capable platform. However, verbosity and boilerplate code remain major concerns for developers, particularly when compared to other programming languages. This issue is evident in entity modeling using Spring Data or Micronaut Data with JPA, where developers are required to manually write getters, setters, constructors, and other boilerplate code.
Root Cause
The root cause of this issue can be attributed to the following factors:
- Manual writing of boilerplate code: Developers are required to manually write getters, setters, constructors, and other boilerplate code, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
- Limited support for reducing boilerplate code: While Java has introduced features like records, they come with limitations, such as the inability to extend other classes and poor integration with JPA.
- Reliance on third-party libraries: Solutions like Lombok can effectively reduce boilerplate code, but some teams may prefer to avoid relying on third-party libraries for long-term maintainability or tooling reasons.
Why This Happens in Real Systems
This issue occurs in real systems due to the following reasons:
- Enterprise applications: Java is widely used in enterprise applications, where stability, performance, and widespread adoption are crucial. However, this can lead to a focus on verbosity and boilerplate code to ensure maintainability and scalability.
- Complexity of Java ecosystem: The Java ecosystem is vast and complex, with numerous frameworks and platforms evolving rapidly. This complexity can make it challenging to address seemingly small concerns like verbosity and boilerplate code.
- Developer experience: The developer experience is critical in determining the adoption of a programming language. Verbosity and boilerplate code can negatively impact developer experience, leading to decreased productivity and adoption.
Real-World Impact
The real-world impact of this issue is significant, with the following consequences:
- Decreased productivity: Verbosity and boilerplate code can lead to decreased productivity, as developers spend more time writing and maintaining boilerplate code.
- Increased maintenance costs: The more boilerplate code there is, the higher the maintenance costs, as developers need to update and refactor this code over time.
- Negative impact on developer experience: Verbosity and boilerplate code can negatively impact the developer experience, leading to decreased adoption and a less attractive platform for developers.
Example or Code
// Without Lombok
@Entity
public class Role extends EntityMetadata {
private String name;
private String description;
// Create getter/setter constructor and other things
}
// With Lombok
@Entity
@Getter
@Setter
@NoArgsConstructor
@AllArgsConstructor
@Builder
public class Role extends EntityMetadata {
private String name;
private String description;
}
// Quarkus approach
@Entity
public class Role extends EntityMetadata {
public String name;
public String description;
}How Senior Engineers Fix It
Senior engineers can address this issue by:
- Leveraging Lombok: Using Lombok to reduce boilerplate code and improve readability and productivity.
- Using Quarkus: Adopting the Quarkus approach, which generates necessary accessors and infrastructure behind the scenes, reducing boilerplate code without requiring additional libraries.
- Optimizing entity modeling: Optimizing entity modeling using Spring Data or Micronaut Data with JPA, to minimize boilerplate code and improve maintainability.
Why Juniors Miss It
Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:
- Lack of experience: Limited experience with Java and its ecosystem, leading to a lack of understanding of the impact of verbosity and boilerplate code.
- Focus on functionality: A focus on implementing functionality, rather than optimizing code quality and maintainability.
- Unfamiliarity with solutions: Unfamiliarity with solutions like Lombok and Quarkus, which can effectively reduce boilerplate code and improve productivity.